Check punching and issuing machine



Sept. 13, 1932. I R HELSEL CHECK PUNCHING Am) ISSUING MACHINE v Original Fiied ua '4, 1925 a Sheets-Sheet I v1 Sept. 13, 1932.

Original Filed May 4 1926 a Sheets-Sheet *2 ATTORNE 1 Sept. 13, 1932. R. H. HELSEL CHECK PUNCi-[ING AND ISSUING moan:

Original Filed May 4, 1926 B Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENTOR )Feoben 66 fle Are/ Sept. 13, 1932. R. H. HELSEL ,6

CHECK PUiJCHING AND FSSUING MACHINE Original Filed May 4, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR fez/6e If A: Zi'c/ Sept. 13, 1 932. R, H, H LSEL 1,876,672

CHECK PUNCHING AND ISSUING MACHINE Original 'FileduMay 4, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 L. L( l i 3/ F2 I BY I ATiZRNEY Sept. 13, 1932. R.. H. HELSEL 1,376,572

I CHECK PUNCHING AND ISSUfNG MACHINE Original Filed May 4, 1926 a sh eetsr heet 6 V f 150 .2 H.

F F O a INVENTOR O3 a O Ol 2 :2 2: 1:2 m PM no BY Q v.5 Q W0 o O 2 2 L a. varo m m I; J ATTORNEYS Sept. 13, 1932. HELSEL v 1,876,672

CHECK PUNCHING AND ISSUING' MACHINE Original Filed May 4, 1926 B'Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR member; r2 #e/Je/ Patented Sepia 13, 1932 v UNlTED STATES PATENT .OFFICE REUBEN n. HELSEL, or LONG ISLAND cIrY,

NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MEN'I'S, T0 GENERAL REGISTER CQBPORATION, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A COB- PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA CHECK PUNCHING AND ISSUING MACHINE Original application filed May 4, 1926, Serial No. 106,632. Divided and this application filed. June 17,

1930. Serial This invention relates to check or ticket issuing machines and this application is a division of application Serial No. 106,632, filed lVIay 4, 1926. The particular invention covered in this divisional application has for its sal ent object to provide mechanism for locking the selector keys and operative parts of the machine against operation when no strip, check or ticket is in position to be punched or operated upon.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following specification taken in connection with the drawings, which form a part of this application, and in which Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation taken substantially on line 11 of Figs. 2 and 5;

Fig. 2 is a sectional front elevation taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1 v

Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation taken substantially on line 3-3 of'Figs. 2 and 5;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figs. 2 and 5 Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary development of the top of thekeyboard showing in dotted lines the punch mechanism, arrested by key 55 of one of the sets of keys, but the other punch mechanism being disposed in inactive position;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a ticket issued by the machine;

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation taken Sllb'. stantially on line 9-9 of Fig. 1 and illustrating particularly the punch mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a View similar'to Fig. 9 taken substantially on line 1010 of Fig. 1, showing the. cutting or check severing mechanism; and

Fig. 11 is a sectionaldetail view showing the motor and switch for controlling the motor and operating means for the switch.

The invention briefly described is incorporated in a machine having a plurality of sets of selector keys and means such as punch mechanism for each set of keys operative upon a check to indicate thereon the amount purchased. The keys of each set are constructed and arranged to set in operation a plurality of operative parts which after being set in operation, function automatically, complete their cycles of operation and return to their initial position. Upon the depression of one of the keys in one of the sets of keys, the punch mechanism is moved to operative position corresponding to the key depressed and a mo-' tor is set in operation. The motor is geared to an operating shaft which, by means of the motor drive" when the various parts have completed their cyclesof operation and returned to their initial positions. Means is also provided for locking the check strip feeding mechanism during the punching and.

check severing operations and for releasing this locking means when the check strip is fed subsequent to the punching operation.

The mechanism also includes a counter and is so constructed and arranged that the counter will be operated during the punching and issuing of each check or ticket and will indicate after each check or ticket has been delivered or issued, the exact total of the amounts covered by the issued checks.

The particular part of the machine to which the invention covered in this divisional application relates, consists of means for lockingthe keys, punch mechanism, motor and other operative parts against operation when thecheck or ticket strip is exhausted or for any reason a check or strip is not positioned to be operated upon by the punch or other operative mechanism.

Further details of the invention will appear from the following description.

In,order to adequately disclose the invention in its relationto the various operative parts of a check, or ticket issuing machine it stantially the entire machine.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the machine is used in a casing havmg a bottom 20, a front wall 21 extending upwardly for a portion of the length of the casing, a rear .wall 22 and side walls 23 and 24. These parts can be made and secured together in any desired manner, as by screws 25 (see Figs. 2 and I The casing has secured therein partitions 26, 27, 28 and 29, the operative mechanism being mounted on these partitions or frame members and the partitions being securely connected to the casing and also being connected together by sha ts, spindles and other parts hereinafter described.

- Selector keys and control bars tion.

As shown in Fig. 2, the cover 31 has formed thereon. or secured thereto downwardly extending webs 34 and a plate 35 curved in sec tion and corresponding in curvature to the cover 31, is secured to the lower ends of the webs 34. Parallel webs 36 extend inwardly or downwardly from the plate 35 and are disposed between the upper portions of the partitions 27 and 28.

The keys 40 are slidably mounted in the coyer 31 and plate 35 and are normally resillently retained in their extended osition as shown in Fig. 2 by means of springs 41,

which engage the plate 35 at their inner ends and engage. at their outer ends laterall extending lugs or pins 42 carried by the keys.

Thk pins 42 are limited in their movement by means of slots 43 formedin the webs 34, thereto y means of a clutch comprisinq a the outer ends of the pins being disposed in theslots. The pins and slots also form additional guides for the keys 40.

The entire operating mechanism of the machine is controlled by a pairof control bars 45 and 46. These bars are carried by the webs 34 and are slidably mounted thereon by means of pins or screws 47 which are secured to the web and extend through slots 48 formed in the control bars.

Each of the bars has formed in its upper edge a plurality of inclined elongated notches 49, the outer ends of these notches being normally disposed as shown in Fig. 4 in position to receive the end portions of the pins 42 carried by the keys 40. The notches at their inner ends are enlarged or as shown at 50.

In operation when one of the keys of the set B is depressed, the pin 42 carried by the tion of the notch will cause the control bar 45 to be depressed to the position shown in Fig. 1. This depression of the control bar sets in operation the various operative parts of the machine, causing these parts to move through their cycles of movement and to return to their initial positions without further attention by the operator. Attention is called to the fact that when one of the keys has been depressed, shifting the bar, the pin 42 of that key will be disposed in the recess 50, thereby preventing the key from returning to its initial position and also th shifting of the bar will dispose the portions of the bar between the notches beneath the other pins 42, thereby preventing operation thereof.

Each of the control bars 45, 46 has secured to its lower end an arm 51 and the two arms 51 are slotted at their upper ends and are connected to the bars by a pin and slot connection as shown at 52.

Each arm 51 has two notches 53, 54 on its inner edge, adapted to receive a pin 55 projecting from partition 27 or from partition 28. The arms are engaged. by and held against the pins 55 by springs 56. Each arm 0 also has a pin 57 projecting laterally therefrom, the function of these pins being herei'nafter explained.

1 Drive mechanism Any suitable power may be used for operating the machine and in v the embodiment 'of th invention shown, a motor M is mountbut, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, is connected ratchet 71 formed on the gear and a pawl 72 carried by a disk 73, the disk being pinned to the shaft as shown at 74 (see'Fig. 2). The movement of the pawl 7 2 into operative relation with respect to the ratchet 71 is controlled by a plate 75 rotatably mounted on the hub of the disk 73 and having an inclined cam slot 76 which'receives a pin 77 secured to and extending laterally from the pawl 72. The plate 75 is resiliently moved in one The arms 84 at their opposite ends carry -a spindle or shaft 90 which is disposed below retained in its upper and lower positions by and in the path of movement of arms 51.

When the control bars 45 and arms 51are depressed in the manner above described, the shaft 90 is engaged by arms 51 and depressed and the depression of the shaft causes the depression of the free ends of the arms 84 thereby rotatingthe shaft 82 in a clockwise direction to an extent sufiicient to cause the latch 80 to release the lug 79 carried by the plate 75. When this lug is released from the latch, the plate 7 5will be swung in a counter-clockwise direction (see Fig. 4) causing the pin 77 carried by the pawl 72 to travel downwardly in the slot 76 or toward the axis of the plate and into operative position with respect to the ratchet 71.

The spindle or shaft 90 is non positively means latches 85 pivoted atv 86 and resiliently a uated in one direction by springs 87. The latches 85 are provided with a pair of notches 88 and 89 for retaining the spindle in its two positions of movement.

Lock mechanism out the pawl and ratchet clutch and for locking the keys against operation when the ticket strip has been used and themachine is empty, or for any reason no check or ticket strip is in position to be punched or operated upon bythe operative parts of the machine.

This means is illustrated in Fig. 4 and comprises a lever 250 pivoted at 251 and having a roller 252 at one end engaging a cam 253 formed on the periphery of disk 73. The roller is maintained in engagement with the cam by a spring 254 which tends to swing the lever in a clockwise direction about its pivot 251.. The other end of lever 250 engages rod or shaft 90.

Rod 90 has mounted thereon a feeler bar 255 which is slidable in a guide 256 and has a hook or lug 257 at its upper end- The cam and lever reciprocate the bar 255 up and down, each revolution of the disk 7 3 and cam 253.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 a detector 260 v is provided with a projection 261 that normally rests on the ticket stripand is main-- tained in elevated position thereby. The detector consists of two arms 262-and 263 connected by a rod 264 pivoted in frame/member 26' and 27.

A finger grip or handle 265' is connected to projection 261. The arm 263 has a hook 266 on its free end adapted to extend into the. path of hook 257 when the strip-is exhausted and the arms 262 and 263 are per- ,mitted to drop.

Operation of look When the arms 262 and 263 of the detector 260 drop, the hook 266 will engage the hook 257 and hold the bar 255 in elevated position, thus causing lug 80 to throw out the clutch. Also the rod 90 will be elevated and will prevent depression of bars 51, thus preventing any further operationof the selector keys until a new ticket strip is placed in the machine.

As described in the next paragraph, the elevation of rod 90 will also disconnect the source of power from the motor.

M0 tor control The motor circuit is normally open but is automatically closed upon the depression of one of the keys in the following manner.

As shown in Fig. 11, the spindle or shaft 90 has mounted thereon a link 95 which is connected at its upper end to a knife switch having a blade 96 and contact terminals 97. This switch controls the power circuit for the motor and when the switch is closed, the motor is operative. Thus it will be seen that as the key is depressed, thereby depressing the control bar, arm 51 and shaft 90, the motor switch is closed and the motor begins to operate. The depression of the shaft 90 also causes the pawl 7 2 to move into operative re-l lation with respect to ratchet 71, thereby con.- necting the shaft to the motor actuated shaft;

The elevation of the spindle or rod 90 b the locking mechanism will open the switch 96 andstop the motor.

Punch mechanism nism is provided for each set of selector keys.

r In the particular machine, punch mechabut it will be understood that other mechanism for operation on the check or strip, such as printing mechanism, may be used, if desired. The punch mechanisms, as shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 9, comprise arms 100 and 101 carried by hubs or sleeves 102, 203 on a shaft 104'. A spring 105 is connected to each arm and tends to swing the arm about its pivot in a clockwise direction.

Each arm 100 has an inwardly extending lug 106 provided with a perforation 107 to receive the plunch and each arm also has slid- 'ably mounted thereon by a pin and slot connection 108, a punch frame 109. The punch frame 109 has an angular extension 110 at one end which carries the. punch 111 and the punch is guided in its reciprocatory movement by a lug 112 formed on the arm 100 and spaced from the lug 107 to permit the passage of the'ticket 113 between these two lugs.

Each'punch frame 109 has secured thereto .;and extending laterally therefrom, a pair of lugs 115-and 116. These lugs, as shown in F igs. 1 and 9, are positioned on opposite sides of an arm 117 of a lever 118 pivoted at 119 and adapted to control the actuation and retraction of the punch.

Each of the arms 117 ofthe leversis con nected by a pin and slot connection 120, 121 to an arm 122 pivoted at 123. Each lever 118 is normally swun'g about its pivot in an anticlockwise direction by means of a spring 124.

The inner surface of each arm 117 is provided with a recess or cut-away portion 128 which, as shown in Fig. 3, is normally positioned. opposite the lug 116, this being the relative position of these parts when none of the keys has been depressed. When, however, one of the keys, as the key has been depressed, as shown in Fig. 1, the lug 116 of the punch controlled by that set of keys is dis posed in position'to be actuated by the lever 118.

Punch lock mechanism Each of the punch mechanisms is normally locked in inoperative position at the position 129 having an upwardly extending arm 131 and a laterally extending arm 132. A plate 133 is secured to each arm132 and is. adapted tobe engaged by" a. depressed key, as shown in Fig. 1.

- Each arm 131 has secured adjacent the upper end thereof, a laterally and inwardly extending lug or pin 134, these pins extending into slots 135 formed in the partitions 27 and 28 (see Fig. 3). The upper edges of these slots are provided with a 136, one recess being provided for each amount, or each key of each of the sets of keys and an additional recess in each key being provided for holding the punch in inoperative position.

A spring 140 engages the arm 131 of each bell crank lever and tends to swing-the lever in a direction to release the pin 134 from the recesses.

Two separate means are provided for holding the pin of each bell crank in one of the recesses of the slot.

In Fig. 3 there is shown a lever 145 plvoted at 146 and having its upper end 147 disposed in a position to engage one of .the pins 134 and force this pin upwardly into the left hand recess. 1 I

The lower end of the lever 145 has connect ed thereto a link 148 which in turn is pivoted at 149 to a link 150. The link 150 is sup-' ported by .a spring 151 which tends to more the link laterally to the left (as shown in Fig. 1). The end of the link 150 is provided with a notch 152 adapted to engage and receive either pin 55 or pin 57. When the keys of one set are all disposed in retracted position or in position to e operated, as shown in "plurality of recesses Fig. 3, the notch 152 of the arm 150 will engage pin 55, thus holding the upper end 147 of the lever 145 associated with the group of keys of the set under consideration in position to retain the locking pin 134 of the bell crank lever 129 corresponding with that set of keys in looking position.

When one of the keysis depressed, as shown in Fig. 1, thus depressing the bar 51 corresponding to that setof keys, the link 150 will be forced downwardly and 'will be pulled to the left by the spring 151, thus swinging the lever 145 in a clockwise direction about its pivot and releasing the locking pin corresponding to the set of selector keys which includes the depressed key,

Another lock is also provided, this lock consisting of a sector 160 pivoted, as shown in Fig. 5, on the shaft 104. Each sector has a notch 161 at one end thereof and has an areaate portion 162 adapted to be positioned beneath the pin 134 and prevent the release of the pin from one of the recesses 136. Each sector 160 also has secured thereto a lug 163 (see Fig. 1) adapted to engage the punch arm 100 or 101 and return the punch arm to initial position, ashereinbefore described.

Each sector is actuated at each operation of the machine by means of a link 165 eccentrically connecte'd at-166 to a gear 167.- A. gear 167 is provided for each set of selector keys, one of the shafts 168 being mounted on the partition 27 and the other being mounted on the partition 28. I The gears 167 are'driven by gears 170 which are mounted on and driven by the shaft 0. Thus at each revolution of the gears 167, the sectors 160 will be oscillated and when the'sectors are so positioned that the notches 161 therein are disposed beneath the locking pin 134,.the pins can be released from the recesses 136. The operations are so timed that when a key is depressed, the sector will be swung in an anticlockwise direction immediately to release the locking pin 134 controlled thereby, permitting the punch mechanism to swing upwardlyuntil it engages the depressed key, whereupon the locking pin 134 will enter the recess corresponding to the first key and will be locked therein bythe-sector which is returned to its locking position.

Punch operating means gaged by a lug 174 which is also carried by the gear 170. The roller 171 acuates the lever mechanismto operate the punch and the engagement of the lug 174 with arm 173 returns the lever to its initial position.

Locking mechanism and feeding mechanism for check stm'p feed The. checks or tickets may be drawn from a feed roll or from a zig-zag supply package and the strip has formed therein at each end of each check, a perforation, a portion of these perforations be ng shown at 180 in Fig. 8. These perforations receivev periph- Tn order to lock the disk 182- against movement during the punching operation and during the cutting operation, a lever 187 is pivoted at 188 to a fixed pivot carried by the partition 28 and a stud 189 is mounted in one end of the lever and is positioned to enter the notches 186 of the disk 185.

' The movement of thelever 187 is controlled by means of a cam 190 having a circular or cylindrical portion 191 upon which a roller '192 carried by the free end of the lever 187 rides during the major portion of the cycle of movement of the parts to retain the stud 189 in one of the slots 186 of the disk 185 and lock the disk 185 and disk 182 against movement. However, when the punch mechanism has been operated and it is desired to feed the check strip and sever the punched check, the roller 192 under. the actuation of a spring 193 will engage a projecting portion 195 of the cam 190, thereby causing the lever 187 to move in a counter-clockwise direction, releasing the stud 189 from the notch 186 and permitting the rotation of the disks 182 and 185. v

When the locking means for the disk has been released in the manner just set forth,

disk rotating means is'brought into operation in the following manner. A disk 200 is fixed to the shaft and carries on one face adjacent its periphery a pin 201 adapted to enter at. a predetermined point in the'c cle of operation of the parts one'of the our radial notches 202 formed in a Geneva wheel 203 rotatably mounted on a stud 204 carried by the partition 27. The disk 200 also has secured thereto a disk 205 so formed as to cooperate with the recessed arcuate portions 206 of the Geneva wheel in the well lmown manner to prevent rotation of the wheel except when the pin :201 is in operative posihas been released from its lock, the Geneva wheel will be operated to rotate the disk and feed the check strip a distance corresponding to the length of one check. When the check strip has been so fed, the cutting or severing mechanism is brought into operation in the following manner. I

The front wall 21 of the casing has formed thereon an inwardly extending inclined support 230 for receiving the severed check and a spring clip 231 is secured and carried by the plate 217 for retaining the severed check.

The cover 31 of the casing is pivoted at 232 and hasa leaf or door 233 hinged thereto,

as shown at. 234, the lower edge of the door a being spaced from-the upper end of the front wall 21 of the casing to give access to the severed check. I

The mechanism illustrated also includes counter or totalizer mechanism for indicatingthe total amount covered by the checks or tickets issued by the machine, but since the invention claimed in this application.

does not relate in any way to the counter or totahzer, this mechanism need not be described.

1 Resetting operation 73, actuates the lever 250 once every revolution. This actuation of the lever is timed to take place at the completion of the operabe raised, thus raising the bars 51, which in turn raise the control bars 45, releasing the. depressed key or keys. As the bars or links 51 are elevated, the link or links 150 will also be moved to the left, and the pin or pins 55 will be disposed in the lower notches 54 of the bars 51 and the notches 1520f the links 150 will also engage the pins 55. This will permit the locking levers 145 to again lock the pins 134 in the left hand recesses 136, thus retaining the punch mechanism in inoperative position. The punch mechanism is returned to inoperative position by the engagement of the lugs 163 with the punch arm as the lug operation will cause the pawl 72 to move out of engagement with the ratchet 71, thus dis connecting the motor drive from the operative mechanism.

Swmmary 0 f operations In summarizing the operations of the various mechanisms of the machine, the operations of the two sides of the machine controlled by the two sets of selector keys will be outlined.

Operations controlled byselecto'r keys A or B Whena selector key in group A or B is depressed, the control bar associated with this group of keys will also be depressed and the bar 51 connected to the control bar will be moved from its upper to its lower position. The depression of the bar 51 will cause the link 150 to move to the position shown in Fig. 1, thus releasing the locking lever 145 from engagement with the pin 134.

As the bar 51 is depressed, the rod 90 will also be de ressed, thus swinging the arm 81 downwar ly and releasing the pin 79 from the latch lock 80. This permits the pawl 72 to engage the ratchet 71 and the depression of the rod 90. also closes the motor switch 96, causing the operation of the motor. As the pawl 72 engages the ratchet 71, the

-.shaft 70 will be rotated by the motor driven gearing between the motor shaft and the gear When the motor is started and the gearin is rotated, the gear 167 will also be rotate e sector 160 to the left (viewing Figs. 1 and 3), positioning the notch or recess 161 beneath the pin 134. The bell crank lever 129 will then swing about its pivot under the action of spring 140 and the punch mechanism 'will swing upwardly by" reason of the action of a sprmg 105. The upward movement of the punch mechanism will be arrested by the depressed key, whereupon the pm 134 will be swung upwardly into the recess 136 corresponding to the key which has been depressed. The pin will be locked therein by the segment 162 which will then have returned to locking position. When the punch mechanism has moved to operative position in the manner just described, the

.lever 118 will beactuated by .roller 171 to operate the punch. When the punch has been operated, the cutting knives will be operated by lug 223 carried by arm 165 to sever the punched check.

During the o erations just described set in motion by the g A or B, the counter mechanism will be operated to add to the total therein the amount punched in the check.

The parts operated in the manner above described are reset by the engagement of lever 250 which is actuated by cam 253 with the rod 90. As the lever'is actuated by the cam, the rod will be raised, thus returning the bar'or link 51 and the control bar to their initial positions, thereby permitting the depressed key to be forced out under the action of the spring operating thereon.

The punch operating mechanism will be returned to its normal position, after its actuation by roller 171, by the spring 124 and as the actuating mechanism returns to the position shown in Fig. 1, the punch will be moved outwardly bythe engagement of the arm 117 with the pin 115. The cutting knives will bereturned to their initial posi-' tion by engagement of lug 223 with the lower edge of the arm 2240f the bell crank lever 220.

The operation of the strip feeding disk 182 and the lockingof this disk in position has already been fully described and further description thereof is not deemed necessary.

The link 150 will be returned to its initial position by reason of the engagement of roll or 322 on lever 320 by lug 17 4 A.

The raising of the rod 9Q'will also in the manner hereinbefore set forth cause the pawl 72 to move out of engagement with the ratchet 71 and will open the motor circuit, thus stopping the operation of the motor. I

The locking mechanism shown in Fig. 4 will operate to lock the keys of both sets against operation whenever the strip of tickets or checks is exhausted. The operation of the lock has been fully described in the foreoing specification and, therefore, further description of this operation is not deemed necessary. I

'From the foregoingispecification it will be seen that each set of eys sets in motion the operation of punch mechanism, ticket s'evering mechanism and counter mechanism and after the depression of a key, the operation of the device is automatic and the punching, feeding and cutting mechanisms will complete their cycles of operations.

Although one specific embodiment of the invention has been particularly shown and described, it will be understood that the in- 1. In a machineof the character described,

check strip supporting means, power operated mechanism operative on the strip supported thereby, a plurality of selector keys for controlling the operation of said mechanism, and means for locking said keys against operation when no check is disposed in position to be operated upon by said mechanism.

2. In a machine of the character described, check strip supporting means, power operated mechanism operative on the strip .supported thereby, a plurality of selector keys for controlling the operation of said mechanism, and means including ;a detector normally resting on and supported by the check strip for locking said keys against operation. when no check is disposed in position to be operated upon by said mechanism.

3. A check punching machine comprising a check supporting surface, mechanism movable relative thereto for operating on a check, means for moving said mechanism to various positions with respect to said check supporting surface, means for latching said mechanism against movement, key control means .for releasing said latching means, 'and looking mechanism for locklng the mechanism against operation when no check is'disposed in position to be operated on by said mechanism. I

4. A check punching machine comprising means for supporting a' check, mechanism for operating on a check movable to various positions with respect to said check supporting means, a plurality of selector keys adapted to form stops for limiting the movement of sa d mechanism and to position said mechanism at predeterminedpoints with respect to the check supporting means, means controlled by said keys for operating said mech anism, and locking mechanism for locking the keys against operation when no-check is disposed in position to be operated on by said mechanism.

5. A check punching machine comprising -means for supporting a check, a plurality of sets of keys, mechanism for each set of keys movable relative to said check supporting means for operating on a check, and means set in operation by the actuation of a key in either set of keys for operating the mechanism for said set of keys, and locking mechanism for locking the mechanism against operation when no check is disposed in position to be operated on by said mechanism.

6. A check punching machine comprising means for supporting a check, a plurality of sets of keys, punching mechanism for each set 'ofkeys movable relative to said check supporting means and means set in operation by the actuation of a key in either set 'of keys for operating the punching mechanism for said set of keys, and locking mechanism for locking the keys against operation when no check is disposed in position to be operated onby the punch mechanism.

7. A check punching machine comprising a check supporting surface, a check punching mechanism movable relative thereto, means 'fonmovingisaid check punching mechanism to various positions wit-h respect to said check supporting surface, means for latching said mechanism against movement, key control means for releasing said latching means, and lockingmechanism including a control member adapted to normally rest on andbe supported by a check for locking the mechanism against operation when no check is disposed in position to be operated on by. the punch mechanism.

8. In a machine of the'character described, check strip 1 supporting means, means for feeding a check strip across said supporting means, operative driving connections for said feeding means, a plurality of selector keys for selectively controlling said driving connections and locking mechanism for rendering said driving connections inoperative when no check is disposed on-said supporting means.

9. In a machineof the=character described,

check strip supporting means, means for feeding a check strip across said supporting means, operative driving connections for said feeding means, a plurality of selector keys for selectively controlling said driving connections and locking mechanism including a detector normally resting on and supported by the check strip for rendering said driving connections inoperative when no check is dis posed on said supporting means.

10. In a machine of the character described, check strip supporting means, means for feeding. a check strip across said supporting means, a motor for driving said feeding means, mechanism operative on a check disposed on said supporting means, operative connections between said motor and said mechanism, selector keys for selectively controlling the operation of said mechanism and means for rendering said motor inoperative when no check is disposed on said supporting means.

11. In a machine of the character described, means for supporting and feeding a check, punching mechanism adapted to operate on a check supported thereby, a motor, an operating shaft, means carried by said shaft for operating said punching mechanism, a plurality of selector keys, means 'ineluding a clutch controlled by said selector keys for operatively connecting said motor and said shaft, and means for rendering said clutch inoperative when no check is positioned on said supporting means. I

12'. In a machine of the character described, means for supporting and feeding a check, punching mechanism adapted to operate on a check supported thereby, a motor, 1 I

an operating shaft, means carried by said shaft for operating said punching mechanism, a plurality of selector keys, means including a clutch controlled by said selector keys for operatively connecting said motor and said shaft, and means for rendering said clutch inoperative when no check is positioned on said supporting means, including a detector normally resting on and supported by the check strip.

I REUBEN H. HELSEL. 

